June 24, 2013

Headcrusher - Let the Blood Run

I have had Headcrusher’s album Let the Blood Run in my collection for quite some time now, and it has been played whenever I need my fix of something faster, brutal and groovy.

It’s easy to get into and like Headcrusher as they play a blend of Thrash/Death/Hardcore with a massive fat sound and a vocal that ooze of ferociousness. The riffs just caresses the ears and activates the headbanging reflexes, and are a pure joy to listen to. They have managed to break up the songs in nice portions with changes of pace and structures. The speedy pace is mixed with great mid-tempo passages, where they let the music get some air. You will even get some nice guitar solos, that does not become ‘too much’ but ends just before you think: OK enough already!

Headcrusher was formed in 2001 in Pereira, Colombia, moved to New York in 2007 and relocated one year after to Austin, Texas. As I was looking into their background, some questions arose, and if I am wondering, somebody else might be wondering too. So I took the questions to the band and vocalist Gustavo "Kike" Valderrama were so kind to answer them:

There are several reason why we moved to New York. But, to make long story short, we had our first U.S tour on the East Coast. We had good friends in New york city who supported us since our arrival. At the end of the tour we decided to stay in New York to record new material, and one thing led to another. We ended up living in New York for over a year.

You then relocated to Austin a year later. Why?

After one year in New York a few members in the band decided to go back home to Colombia to pursue other endeavours. That left the writing core of the band, drummer Alejandro and guitarist Carlos, sort of in the middle of nothing. After a few conversations with our current vocalist and bass player, they decided to move to Austin,TX and relaunch the band in TX soil.

I would say the inspiration for making a band and playing live came from some of the local acts in our hometown Pereira, Colombia. We used to go to local shows and see all these killer bands. We started writing songs when we barely knew how to play our instruments and little by little we improved our writing and performance skills. Musically, I would say metal in general. We all love the metal genre and its different branches from classic stuff like Sabbath and Maiden to Death metal like Dying Fetus and Suffocation. We try to take a little bit from all what we like and listen to.

How did the band get together? Who met who, why and how? (How did it all start back in 2001?)

That's kind of a long story. Currently, the only original member is our drummer Alejandro. He started this band in 2001 with some of his best friends. A few members left the band in the first couple of years. Around, 2003 Carlos became the bass player and eventually the guitar player and main songwriter in the band. From there, Kike our vocalist joined us in 2005. He left the band in 2006, and rejoined in 2008 within bass player Gustavo. David joined the band in 2010. This is the line-up that has been established in the U.S and has released material in American soil.

Let the Blood Run was released in 2012. Mixed and mastered by Tue Madsen (The Haunted, Behemoth, Dark Tranquility etc) and the Artwork was done by the talented Jon Zig.
If you have 1 dollar to spare you can own this great album!